No, this article is not feminist. Facts here are based on research. But it doesn’t mean I’m apologizing for the sting in male eyes (and egos) reading this. Try to ignore the gender favouritism clouding your mind and be enlightened.

According to the most recent research, women make better entrepreneurs than men. This is as a result of many traits and characters owned by women which men do not have. Despite the fact that most start-ups are founded by men, the ones started by females have very much succeeded as compared to those started by men.

Women are much more aware and emotionally intelligent about the human side of the business.

Humanity and business are colliding. We all need to run our businesses with much greater consideration for the people we interact with, our employees, our customers, our suppliers etc. Women seem to get this inherently. They want to make the world a better place. They understand the more emotive aspect of doing business and that is why they understand their customers. In an era where connecting and engaging are highly sought after by customers, women have a very distinct advantage over men.

Women are less prone to self-confidence

While 70% of men are confident their business will succeed, 40% of women don’t feel that way. This makes men reluctant when it comes to “saving for rainy days”, Unlike women who are much aware of the 50-50 chance of their business succeeding or failing, thus coming up with better strategies of avoiding business failure.

Women are better calculated risk takers

Research shows 87% of women see themselves as financial risk takers (talk about Arese), compared to 73% of men. And while 80% of women say they are likely to see opportunities where others see risk, 67% of men say otherwise.

Women are more likely to invest on long term business ideas

While 47% of women would invest in business ideas that can take up to 6 six years for the business to grow and sustain itself, 30% of men would invest in such long term ideas. Research shows majority of men would rather start a business which will start generating profits as soon as possible.

The article ‘Eastern OAPs lack personal branding’ got more negative feedbacks than we would have liked. But it can’t be about what we like; it’s about the undiluted truth. That truth sparking enough reaction to elicit change in the hearts of our target audience. In the midst of all the backlash however, a warm spirit reached out and gave us a much needed positive feedback. Chidera Rosecamille Aneke, a beautiful and hardworking OAP with darling FM Owerri, shone a bright light in a somewhat ‘dark corner’.

An information enthusiast, willing to learn every single thing it takes to build her empire, certified Camille is the OAP influencing lives via her ‘Certified Show’ on darling FM Owerri. We hope you find satisfaction reading this as we did picking her brain.

Thank you for taking time to talk to us, Tell us a bit about yourself

Certified Camille: My name is Chidera Rosecamille Aneke. I am a graduate of Education/English at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Akwa Anambra State.

When did the media journey start for you?

Certified Camille: The media journey for me started the moment I started listening to the defunct Cosmo FM Enugu. I remember back then I would organize my sisters in the living room to interview them while acting as the host of the show. LOL Officially, the media journey for me started in 2014 with radio Benue where I was the anchor of NYSC forum on radio.

Did you receive support from your family?

Certified Camille: Yes I did. My mum always knew I had a thing for the spotlight. I always went for music auditions, so she was glad radio took me away from music. So yes, I got all the support I needed from my family.

That’s good to know. What challenges did you face as a fresh OAP?

Certified Camille: Oh, that’s a big one. The very first challenge I faced as a fresh OAP was not having a mentor to guide me and mould me properly at my first place of work. I had a certain standard I wanted to attain and I needed already established people in the media to walk me through. So I had to schedule private classes with one of my mentors Sydney Aneke (big syd). I also listened to BBC radio1 and watched a lot of videos.

Does being an OAP intrude in your personal life?

Certified Camille: Yes it actually does. Most times, there are things I would love to do but if I remember I’ll go on air and ask someone not to do something like that, it withholds me from doing those things. Also, being a brand that some people look up to, I try not to let them down.

What does being “media personality mean to you?”

Certified Camille: aha! Being a media personality to me is being that one person who has the absolute power to touch millions of lives, shape minds and cause a mind shift among the listeners to help them make informed choices. It’s about being that one person that can make people happy.

What do you think makes you famous?

Certified Camille: I think it has to do with my name ‘Certified Camille’, my ability to network easily and my warm personality.

What has been your favorite part about working in the Media Industry?

Certified Camille: My favorite part about working in the media industry is being able to meet influential people whom ordinarily I wouldn’t have been able to meet if I wasn’t in the media.

Which media personality do you look up to?

Certified Camille:Richard quest.

Do you think Nigerian OAP’s show us a fake life on social media?

Certified Camille: YES O! Some OAPs actually display a ‘make believe’ life on social media. Some put out the very warm and accommodating personalities online, but when you meet them in person it’s a different story entirely. Thumbs up to the ones who stay real.

Why are there few OAP’s in the East with nationwide recognition and endorsements?

Certified Camille: OAP’s in the southeast are yet to discover the power of networking and the benefits of personal branding. Brands only endorse people who will be able to represent the brand, commandeer a certain amount of audience and make a reasonable impact in people towards their products.

Nobody endorses someone who can’t even make 10 people retweet a tweet on twitter. If we start seeing ourselves as potential ambassadors and putting ourselves on the map then surely brands will pick interest. I love what fabulous Gloria has been able to do with her brand. I am also working so hard to put the brand ‘certified Camille’ out there.

Have you made an impact through campaigns since you became an OAP?

Certified Camille: Yes I have. In October 2016, I organized an event for young students in Aguata lga of Anambra state to prepare them for life after secondary school. The aim of the event was to help these young teenagers make informed choices about their future.

Also during the ‘World Hepatitis Day’ in 2016 and 2017 respectively, I effectively used the media to create awareness and educate people on health issues.

What is your super power?

Arrrrrrghhh super power!! Super power!! Aha! Being able to counsel and advice people. I have talked many people out of depression. I thank God for that gift.

Would you quit being an OAP to marry the love of your life?

Certified Camille: The love of my life should know that radio is my first love taadaah!

Do you think women are better OAP’s than their malecounterparts?

Certified Camille: Female OAPs are as good as the male OAPs, I dislike the comparism.

As a media personality would you say you fully utilize the power of the social media?

Certified Camille: Of course I do. Radio has gone beyond sitting behind the box and talking to an audience who might never get a chance to see what you look like. It has become quite interactive and the audience sometimes becomes a part of the media personality’s life.

Radio has gone social and so have I. I might not have explored deeply the power of social media but one thing I can tell you is that I am a social media freak so there you have it!

Are you in a relationship?

Certified Camille: LOL AT THE MOMENT NO.

What’s your taste in music?

Certified Camille: I am a music fanatic. I listen to any ‘good music’ but I’ll choose hip-hop any day mahn.

Tell us about your most embarrassing moment on radios

My most embarrassing moment was casting news from an electronic gadget and it went off while I was still reading out the news …haaaaa!! I had to apologize to my listeners, it was quite embarrassing.

I also recall sometime my mom called the studio line during a programme while I was on air with my colleagues (because my private line wasn’t going through) and then she said, ‘I want to speak to my daughter Chidera”!!! hhahahahha My co anchor had to tell her that her daughter was okay.

Find out more about Certified Camille on her social media. Follow her on instagram @Certifiedcamille

Precious Moloi-Motsepe is Executive Chairperson of African Fashion International (AFI), a company that promotes fashion designers from Africa and enterprise development in the fashion industry. AFI also empowers disadvantaged women from townships through the Design For Life initiative that supports education and diagnosis of breast cancer in women from rural communities.

Precious’s commitment to social change was sparked by 20 years of experience as a General Practitioner with a special interest in women’s health.

Her passion for global health issues led to the creation of the Johannesburg-based Motsepe Family Foundation which aims to empower poorer communities in South Africa through health and education.

Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe has broken a record for being the first recipient of the Fashion 4 Development Franca Sozzani Award.
This prestigious international award was launched in honour of Sozzani, the late former Vogue Italia editor, and recognises Moloi-Motsepe’s “considerable efforts in connecting, creating and promoting African fashion designers, and opening up new avenues for disadvantaged women”

Since the time of Mo’hits records to the now Mavin records, Don Jazzy has been responsible for the creation of the biggest stars in Nigeria – some of who later become international acts.

Don Jazzy, Michael Collins Ajereh, has made his mark in the Nigerian music industry for over a decade now, and there is still so much about the star that stays as an enigma to many Nigerians.

Here are some things you probably didn’t know about Don Jazzy.

He had humble beginnings

Before Don Jazzy became the top shot that he now is today, he came from a very simple beginning. He was born in Umuahia and stayed there for a while until his family moved to Ajegunle. It was there that he was raised for the better part of his life. He even studied at the Federal Government College Lagos. He even worked as a security guard at one point of his life.

Music has always been with him

Music did not just creep up on Don Jazzy. He has always been with music. Right when he was just four, he got a flair for music, singing and started playing the drums. This he did for his church for a good period of time. At the age of 12, he also developed a passion for the bass guitar. He literally grew up with music.

He is a big time oil investor

If you thought Don Jazzy was all about music alone, then you are quite wrong. Unlike the celebrities that spent all their cash on luxury living and ostentatious spending, Don Jazzy understands the dynamics of the changing entertainment industry. He knows how to invest his money. Majority of such investments go into oil as he has a number of fuel tankers to his name.

He has collaborated with big time stars

This is not so much surprising since some of his stars have gone ahead to do big things with other stars across the world. For one, he collaborated with Jay Z and Kanye West on the production of Lift Off, featuring Beyoncé on the album watch the throne, released in 2011. He is certainly a top shot.

He has received a number of awards

Don Jazzy is by himself, a well-recognized individual for obvious reasons. He has also received a good number of awards and has a few trophies to his name. A highlight of the many awards, however, has to be when in 2015, he was awarded the People Entertainment Award and the Special Recognition Award for his contribution to the music industry. He is the definition of star for sure.

He is actually quite shy

It seems ironic that the same person who has made a name for himself very publicly in the entertainment scene, is one very shy person. But it is so true. He is so shy, it is the reason he wears sunglasses around so much. Who would have known?!

We received a mail. An Enugu based pencil artist just won ‘The most Artistic Personality in Nigeria.” I jumped on it. My curiosity is always hyper when it comes to young successful entrepreneurs. Cookey ibim an UNN student just won the best pencil artist at the teen choice awards. A phrase in the post read 'he has made coal city proud'. Indeed. I had to talk to him. I searched and found him on instagram and slid down his dm. (In the professional way). He agreed to meet up for a little chat.

Fast forward to today, I was getting a bit worried, he's running 10 mins late. I called to politely check if he scrapped us off his calendar, and he politely informed me his 'ride' was a little late. Ride ke? There's no uber in Enugu na. It was a full 30mins before he could locate our building. I knew I was in for a treat when I asked him to describe where he was atm and he said 'I'm parked in front of a low plane building.

I met a smiling young man 5mins later. Not at all stressed for the little gulder ultimate search of locating the building, he walked in, we shook hands and took the seat I had planned for him to sit on. Instincts.. I knew this was about to go down well.

Here's what we talked about;

Thank you for talking with us. Tell us a bit about yourself?

Cookey: My name is Ibim Cookey and I’m a native of Opobo in Rivers state Nigeria. I’m a fresh graduate of the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus from the department of architecture and I am a pencil artist.

How did you get started with pencil drawing?

Cookey: Well, I started with the basic comic books sort of drawing in secondary school and I developed myself with time. I ventured into pencil arts and portraiture fully in 2014. That was the year I got admission into school. Initially, I wanted to study fine arts in school, but my family wasn’t so supportive of that idea. To them the best I could be in that line was a road side artist with a ‘buy your portraits here’ sign in front of my shop and for an average Nigerian parent, that doesn’t really spell out as success.

So they encouraged me to change my mind. But I still wanted something connected with drawing. When I was to register for JAMB, I told the lady at the internet café that I wanted a course related to drawing and she suggested architecture, I agreed. I had no idea then that architecture was more of engineering but am glad am done with it. Although, I feel like I still need to get back to school to get a second degree in arts.

Did you get that initial go ahead and support from your parents?

Cookey: No I didn’t actually. My family wasn’t that supportive in the beginning. The thing is, in Nigeria, the general ideology is; if you decide to go into entertainment and it’s not music, people are usually like ‘leave that one, you no fit blow for that one’ but towards 2015, I trended on the internet and I also had an exhibition in south Africa. I guess that was a way of proving myself, because afterwards my family started to appreciate me and gave me their maximum support. But prior to all of that, I had this family friend whose mom always patronized me and used my work as birthday gifts. It felt nice to have someone appreciate my work. I guess she was the first person that showed me support in the beginning.

What often inspires your pencil work?

Cookey: The series of my art works apart from the ones I do for clients are basically attuned to describe poverty. I work with a lot of agencies like UNICEF that try to combat poverty and make the world a better place. I feel like because most of us are privileged, we are not aware that there is so much poverty in Nigeria. Statistics show that up to 90% of the population live below $2 a day. But because we are not part of this group, we tend to view it as mere statistics. In places like Obiagu and Ogbete in Enugu state, you see little kids who hawk sachet water.

They buy at N5 and sell at N10, minus the ice block used in cooling it, talk less of the stress of carrying it around and hawking it. There is real suffering happening all around us. I draw inspiration from creating awareness against poverty and inspiring people to take cognizance of their surroundings and help the less privileged.

Which pencil artist in Nigeria influences your work?

Cookey: There are a lot of pencil artists in Nigeria that are doing really well both locally and in the international scene. There is Ken arts, Folade and Seyi pencils. Kelvin Okafor is a huge mentor for me. He’s a Nigerian artist based in the United Kingdom. He has gotten a lot of recognition from CNN and BBC. I think he’s a general mentor for every pencil artist.

There’s a lot of pencil drawn art works on the market these days, how do you differentiate yours from the rest?

Cookey: There is this local saying, “If e no be panadol, e no fit be like panadol”. LOL. A lot of people ask me this same question. The truth is, I try to bring about a unique approach to my art. At the coal city art exhibition, I spent a lot of time on details for all my works. I spent close to 200 hours that’s like a month and two weeks working on ‘Destitute’ that’s the painting that made me win ‘The most Artistic personality in Nigeria’. You don’t see that kind of detail on road side works. I always imagine that someone maybe seeing my work for the very first time and may never have the opportunity to look at it again, so I try to use my art to create a long lasting impression.

Where do you get your materials from?

Cookey: Nigeria doesn’t produce anything so I get most of my materials from ALI express. They all come from china. I buy charcoal pencils, graphite pencils etc. Everything I work with, I order online.

What is the most challenging part about being a pencil artist?

Cookey: Well, for you to be able to purchase an artwork, you have to be intellectually sound. Most people are usually like “oh I love this work, it’s very detailed and looks more realistic than aphotograph” but when you tell them the price; they are like, “why? When I can easily snap it andmake it black and white”. Art is dynamic. A good photographer can replicate one picture twice, but no matter how good an artist is, he can never replicate a drawing the same way, they must be some alterations. I feel like the main challenge in my line of work is getting people that are intellectually sound to appreciate and purchase my work.

Do you think Nigerians have less appreciation for art?

Cookey: Of course they do. A lot of sectors in Nigeria are suffering. Educational sector, power sector, health sector etc. Nigerians have a lot of problems to deal with; you can’t blame them for not having any time for art. An average millionaire in Nigerian wouldn’t want to spend millions of Naira on a painting; he’ll rather buy a Ranger rover or a Porsche instead.

What is your creative process like?

Cookey: For me to do some poverty drawings, I take my camera and go to a certain part of town. There are a lot of homeless kids who are begging or hawking, I buy them snacks and take pictures of them. But when am unable to do that, I go online and look for photographers that take similar pictures, I ask for their permission and use the picture. After that I select close to 20 pictures and ponder on them. Being an artist, if you can’t instigate feelings into your work, you can’t arouse feelings in the person looking at it. I study the pictures, the skin tones and pores and wrap my head around it. This always helps me to create an amazing piece.

Do you think if you venture into luxury art, you’ll excel there, knowing poverty traits are your strength?

Cookey: Personally for me, it’s not essentially about excelling. It’s about having fulfillment as an artist. Having the knowledge at the back of your mind that your work is telling a wonderful story and inspiring people. There is also the thing about branding and staking a claim. When my name is mentioned, people are like ‘is it not that guy that does poverty painting??’ It’s already my trade mark.

What do you believe is a key element in creating a wonderful piece?

Cookey: I believe it’s the thought process. There’s a lot of creativity that goes on in the head before it comes on paper. If everything is well detailed in your head, it shouldn’t be hard to bring it to life.

What has been your greatest difficulty as a pencil artist and how did you overcome it?

Cookey: My greatest difficulty has been getting support. People always think pencil artistry is too merger to be a profession and in Nigeria if you don’t join the band wagon, you are not in the right direction. Acceptance was a major thing for me but I feel am conquering it.

How did you combine your academic work with your life as an artist? We know architecture is a very demanding course

Cookey: It was a lot of hard work. Most times I only get 2 hours sleep in a day. I attend lectures from 8am to 6pm and I get to the studio around 7pm. I work on my client’s job till 12am then sleep till 2am. I wake up by 3 and do school work till 6am. Then I get ready for school and the cycle continues. It was strenuous at first but it became routine after a while.

How did you feel about being ‘The Most Artistic Personality in Nigeria’?

Cookey: Well I’m immensely glad my hard work paid off. I’m glad I won and I hope to do more.

What are your interests in life asides art?

Cookey: I love football. I used to be in a football academy, but then I had to go to school. If I wasn’t into art I’ll probably be playing football.

What was the inspiration for your award winning art piece?

Cookey: I wanted to tell a story. The original picture didn’t have the child holding the biscuit but I decided to add that, to sell a point. You know most Nigerians eat biscuits as snacks after meals or for leisure but it is actually a meal for someone. It might be the only thing they’ll eat in a whole day. I wanted to pass that message that to my audience and I’m happy the message was well received.

What is your taste in music?

Cookey: I love vibing to Nigerian songs. I have a music box in my art studio with a collection of my favorite songs because I can’t draw without music. I like songs of Nigerian artists like Wizkid, olamide, Burna boy and sometimes Davido. I like basically anything you can move your body to but at the same time I don’t like too much noise.

That’s good to know. So tell us, Wizkid or Davido?

Cookey: Ah! That shouldn’t be a question sef, its wizkid jare. There is no comparison.

What is the weirdest habit you have as an artist?

Cookey: LOL. That should be condemning myself. If my art doesn’t speak to me, I don’t go ahead with it. I criticize myself a lot.

Being so drawn to telling poverty stories, do you hope to open an NGO in the future?

Cookey: Yes, I intend to have a skill acquisition center for the less privileged kids. There are a lot of talents on the streets but these kids are more worried about what to eat than developing their talents. I hope to help them in that aspect in the future.

What do you do to relax?

Cookey: I watch movies, crime movies like Sherlock homes. I’m very much attracted to knowledge, so I like movies that are investigative and informative.

What’s your relationship life like?

Cookey: LOL well well, I’m single. Most people I’ve met just want something from me. I don’t know maybe I’ve been meeting the wrong people. I don’t like parasitic people. So I’m single at the moment.

Holding on to that, can you donate your kidney to save your girlfriend?

Cookey: LOL. I don’t know o, well it depends. If I like someone I can do anything for the person. But unless she’s my fiancée though, that sacrifice is too much for girlfriend abeg.

Here’s an IQ one; three fishes were thrown into a river and all of them drowned, how many survived?

The guardian Nigeria had a very interesting and inspiring chat with a 6 year old Nigerian girl Moyinoluwa Oluwaseun who is a professional photographer. During the course of the interview, she revealed the source of her inspiration at such a young age, having clients and people’s reaction when she’s doing her job. Read full interview below.

Who is Ariyike?
Ariyike is a brand name of a photography company owned by 6 years old Moyinoluwa Oluwaseun

Why photography and when did you start?
My love for photography started when I was about a year old. I was told I used to have a toy camera, which I got so used to and I take it everywhere I go. When I was about three years old, my grandmother, who is also a photographer gave me her old camera, which became my best companion then. I still have the camera. It’s specially kept in my room.

Is photography just a hobby for you or a business?
It started as a hobby and a passion, but grew into business. It is a family tradition; I am the 3rd generation on the line.

How did you get your first professional camera?
It was a gift from my Dad on my 5th birthday.

Have you had any photography training? Tell us about it?
I have had some trainings and supports from a lot of photographers. First among them is my dad, the creative director of Mo Photography. I, also, had several opportunities to learn from other great photographers like Fototide, Oyerounkeh Foto, Omotgraffix, Bami Ligali and Chazi Photograffy. I am currently undergoing extensive training under Buckles Memoirs, a kiddies photography company. It’s been a great honour working with all these wonderful people. I won’t forget to mention my grandma who has always been a great inspiration to me in the art.

How did you get your first client?
My first client? Uuuuhn…! It was an award presentation event. They saw my posts on Instagram and gave me a call. I am sure they were not expecting much from me until they saw my enthusiasm and passion. I guess I wowed them!

What are people’s reactions when you’re introduced as the photographer of an event?
They are always happy to see me; they are glad that I can do what adults do. I get adults undivided attention; it inspires me. My clients are always eager to see my pictures. Of course, the first shot is all I need to get anyone’s full love. They are always wowed.

How do you stand out from other photographers? Why should a client pick your services over others?
People chose me because I inspire them and other kids. My pictures are beautiful.

Do you do everything yourself? Picture taking, editing, packaging and delivery?
I cover all kinds of events and I am still learning how to edit pictures, but I partner with my Dad’s company, Mo Photography, for editing, packaging and delivery for my company.

What has been your biggest challenge since starting your photography business and how were you able to overcome it?
No challenges really. It has been fun. The challenges came at the initial stage when ushers and organisers at events always try to push me back because they didn’t believe I could do anything with the camera. They usually see me as obstruction to the event flow. The story has changed now. I get more recognition now because I didn’t give up.

Have you had any Recognition for being a photographer and how did you feel when you got it?
Yes, it was the Amazing Amazon Initiative Greatness Award. That was on Children’s Day, May 27, 2017. I was so excited. I still feel so happy each time I pick up the award in my room. You know that feeling right?

What are your dreams as a young photographer?
My dream is to build a world-class photography studio with my four year-old sister, who has been working with me, though she hopes to start her fashion business soon.

How do you combine school with being a photographer?
My business does not affect my school activities since I do only weekend jobs, and my clients understand this. I have special arrangements or events during the week.

What Advice would you give to kids who want to be like you?
I advise kids to believe in themselves and their dreams. They can achieve their dreams if they don’t give up. It is always good to start early and it is fun too. Start Now!

Maduka : Growing up for me was not different from that of other kids out there in street. It was fun though growing in Kaduna state. I had to work for my mother in her restaurant to earn money for boots and transportation to training. I had to mix this with education.

Were you drawn to football because of passion or was it the hardship of the country that pushed you into playing football?

Maduka : Lol. I think I started playing football b4 I was born. I have loved football all my life. I play it for the passion.

So you were playing the heavenly league?

Maduka : Lol. Stomach league

Most footballers live a jet set lifestyle, Are you any different?

Maduka : It depends on what u call a jet set lifestyle. I don't think getting for yourself what u want means you are living a luxurious lifestyle, but you just have to always remember that no matter how much wealth you get in this life , it can't buy you a place in heaven.

What else are you passionate about aside from football?

Maduka : Football or nothing bro.

What is your view on the state of the game (football) in Nigeria?

Maduka : The state of the game in the country today is a little bit better than what he had 2 years back. In terms of organization I will give a pass mark to the football body but in terms of players welfare, we are really lagging behind.

Do you think African teams are closing the gap on the european and South American sides?

Maduka : I don't think so. From what I have seen so far, the gap is to much.

It’s obvious that a path to a successful anything is crooked and will require a lot of dedication. Once you’ve decided that you can dedicate yourself to invest in a solid branding campaign, and then you can really say that you’re on the path to

achieving the creation of a successful multi-million(whatever currency you desire) brand.

Here you’ll be learning 6 things to note when building a successful branding campaign

1. Pay attention to detail.

Steve Jobs’ once remarked that: "It's not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.'' The more accurate word to describe this is meticulousness or thoughtfulness for your clients’ user experience. Anticipating the little things that

will impede user experience and coming up with innovative and sleek solutions to those impediments is the hallmark of a million-dollar brand.

2. Don’t ignore surveys.

Surveys are a vital part of any branding campaign. If your branding campaign is a ship on the ocean, then surveys would be a core part of the ship’s navigational wheel. Surveys allow you to pinpoint and characterize the public perception and

reaction to your branding attempts, and that awareness is essential to any future improvements you might make.

3. Master online visuals.

Making your brand visually appealing is make or break. Visual aids have a big impact on traffic and visitor engagement.

4. Focus on feeling.

One reason certain brands are worth so much more than others -- especially when it comes to fashion -- relates to the feeling that customers get from things like the illustrious historical reputation of certain fashion houses as well as the unique

blend of materials they use. But the modern definition of a luxury or an exclusive brand is sitting on a paradox in the sense that more and more people have the money and the means to afford those “luxury” products. Nowadays, it’s completely

possible to effectively duplicate the characteristics of high quality , losing its exclusiveness.

5. Make use of influencers.

In the current market climate, branding is all about association with popular, informal figures called influencers. Platforms such as Instagram are crucial for branding because they gather a large number of people with similar interests, feelings,

attitudes and a high level of trust towards a certain figure, which can be converted into very positive outcomes for branding.

6. Exemplary customer service

Covering all of your bases is part of the process of making an excellent brand, and customer service stands as one of the pillars of a great branding campaign. If you think about it, customer service is the department that involves the most

person-to-person interactions, so how well your customer service representatives deal with your clients will have a major influence on their thoughts regarding your brand. Customers are very likely to associate an image or feeling that they get

from dealing with a customer service representative with the entirety of your brand, so it’s doubly important to really have a regimented, comprehensive customer service approach.

Cookey ibim an architecture student at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus has wowed his parents, friends and appreciators of art by winning the "Most Artistic Personality Award in Nigeria" at the Nigerian Teen Choice Awards.

The event which held in Lagos on Sunday 6th August saw a vast collection of talented young Nigerians being appreciated for embracing and making the most of their talents.

"Most Artistic Personality Award in Nigeria" was keenly contested by 7 great artists across Nigeria but Cookey Ibim emerged the overall winner.

Amongst other works, his artwork "Destitute" was first showcased at the Coal City Art Exhibition in Enugu and this same work has gotten several nominations.

Cookey Ibim has also been invited to showcase his great works at Contemporary art fair, Montreux Switzerland, November 8th to 12th 2017.

There is no need for a long sentence form of introduction. If you haven’t been living under a rock the better part of this year, then the name ‘Hushpuppi’ conjures the image of the person am about to talk about in your mind. There is always something to learn from everyone, we just need to shut down the judgemental part of our brain.

Popularly known, for his luxurious lifestyle, more for his somewhat ‘unique’ fashion sense and philanthropic nature, no one really knows what hushpuppi does specifically for a living, but looking beyond that, here are a few lessons every serious minded entrepreneur can learn.

CHARISMA

Hushpuppi has an undeniable charm that makes everything he says or does or wear even, appear deliberate and newsworthy. As an entrepreneur, having an appealing charisma is something you need desperately. You need to appear unique and news worthy as an individual and the product you’re marketing also. People need to see something new and unusual about you all the time. Edward Hopper opined, ‘No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination’.

CONFIDENCE

Most times, as a business person, it’s not about what you believe, it’s about what you can convince your customer/client to believe. Confidence sells your brand, you communicate that you’re absolutely sure about yourself and what you do. Hushpuppi’s confidence is almost blinding. You can’t deny it, yab his fashion sense; untraceable source of wealth and etc, the nigga has 100% confidence in himself and his hustle.

BRAND MANAGEMENT

People pay to attend seminars and lectures where they are taught about brand management but the best form of knowledge remains the deep realization and decision to do something. Social media has made a lot of things quite easy. Instagram and facebook pages are fast turning to CVs. Before an international client can patronize you or your brand, the kind of content you push out will of course be assessed. Hushpuppi constantly posts about his life and shoes and clothes and accessories. Quite a strategic young man. Like it or not, when you hear hushpuppyi, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘wealth’. The way you present yourself, is the way you’ll be received. Be strategic.

COMMITMENT TO HUSTLE

We all accept hushpuppi is a baller. His actual net worth is yet to be factually proven but quoting instagram posts and whispered rumours, Ray hushpuppi owns a Rolls Royce, a latest Range Rover and some cars. He travels in private jet and buys drinks worth millions in the club, he’s also a Gucci lover, with a lot of Gucci shoes and clothes. He’s probably worth billions of Naira but that notwithstanding, he is still committed to his hustle. That is the primary goal of every entrepreneur, no matter how far you climb, never abandon the hustle.